Fighting Crime Two Wheels at a Time
by John Lentz, staff writer, thepilot.com | July 26, 2013
Southern Pines police say an ongoing bike patrol program has been beneficial in both arrests and community outreach.
“The patrols have been successful on several levels,” said Southern Pines Police Chief Bob Temme. “Regarding community relations, our officers are in closer contact with the public. At events such as Springfest, First Fridays and others, bikes can weave through the crowds unhindered.
“And regarding the weekend night bar activity, the bikes are stealthy and have the element of surprise. This comes in handy, especially when we are looking for someone.”
The department currently has three modified Trek and Fuji bicycles and two trained officers.
“The bikes are put through a lot of wear and tear, especially in training, and don’t last long,” Temme said. “They are designed especially for police work, with lightweight frames and wheels, shock absorbers, lights and sirens.”
The bikes are also outfitted with bags to carry citation books and other items.
Temme said that the officers sometimes begin their patrols from the police station downtown, or they may carry the bikes on their patrol cars to a given location. Patrols may encompass 20 to 25 miles of riding over a two- to three-hour period, with rotating shifts day and night.
“We are increasing the use of bike patrols in high crime areas such as Brookside and Westside,” Temme said. “Being on bicycles gives the officers a great opportunity to stop and talk with residents during their patrols. As you can imagine, this is a very important aspect of community relations.”
Downtown business owner Patrick O’Donnell said he has a high opinion of the bike patrol program.
“A few years back, there were a lot of car break-ins downtown, and after they initiated the bike patrols, that stopped pretty quickly,” O’Donnell said. “I like them. They’re quiet, they can enter alleyways, and overall I think it’s a really good program.”
O’Donnell, who owns the Downtown Grill, SoPies Pizzeria and O’Donnell’s Pub, said he sees the foot and bike patrols “all the time.”
“They are very visible,” he said. “They walk into the business and say hello, if you need us we’re around, that kind of thing. They have a definite presence.”
Officer Dominick Washington, whom Temme calls the “most active” bike patrolman in the department, has been on two-wheel patrol since October 2012.
“The bikes go where cars sometimes can’t, and I am very proud of the positive potential the bicycles have for the community,” he said. “The bad guys see cars coming, but not bicycles, and we have received very positive feedback from citizens who say they enjoy seeing us on patrol.
“It makes us more personable, because we are not behind a windshield inside of a car. On bike patrol you can stop, talk to people, and get to know the people who live in a given area.”
Washington said training can be an intense experience.
“When I attended a nationally accredited program through the International Police Mountain Bike Association, we practiced a number of things such as riding up and down steps and navigating an obstacle course that simulated an urban environment. We learned to balance on one side of the bike, how to dismount while moving, and how to shoot and ride at the same time.”
Washington said he was proudest of the safety programs that he and other officers conduct for the young citizens of the county.
“We periodically provide bike safety programs at schools and churches to teach kids how to ride safely,” he said.
Separate statistics are not kept on bike patrols, Temme said, since they are a part of a larger patrol division. Still, he said, their worth is realized by patrolling where automobiles can’t always go.
“Nothing is off limits for a bike patrol,” he said. “In terms of both community relations and in stealth, it’s been a great success.”
http://www.thepilot.com/news/article_8794297c-f62c-11e2-a2c6-001a4bcf6878.html